Sight feed



July 14, 1936. w. H. KNlsKERN SIGHT FEED Filed March 5, 1931 Patented July 14, 19.?6

P UNITED STATES PATENTy OFFICE SIGHT FEED Walter H. Kniskern, Prince GeorgeCounty, Va., q assigner to Atmospheric Nitrogen Corporation,

New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 5, 1931, Serial No. 520,323

c claims. (o1.1s496) This invention relates to sight feeds of the general type in which a glass sight associated with a sight feed chamber is utilized toy permit observation of the flow of drops of oil through a body 5 of heavy colorless liquid maintained Within such sight feed chamber.

Sight feeds of the type to which the present` invention is directed, usually comprise a sight feed chamber adapted to contain a heavy colorless liquid, a valved oil inlet and a valved oil outlet, an oil drop-forming nipple immediately associated with the oil inlet, together with some means including a glass tube or a glass disk permitting ready observation of the upward passage of successive drops ofoil through the heavy liquid in the chamber. As is known in the art, measured quantities. of oil are continuously or intermittently injected into the -sight feed chamber through the valved oil inlet thereof by 2O any suitable force feed lubricator. The, oil thus fed into the chamber rises upwardly through the heavy liquid therein, and nally passes out of the chamber through the oil outlet, whence the oil is conducted through tubing to the part or parts of the mechanism to be lubricated. During the operation of such sight feed devices, small quantities of the heavy colorless liquid inthe sight feed chamber are from time to time carried out of the chamber along with the oil discharged through the outlet. Over a given period, the supply of heavy liquid in the sight feed chamber becomes gradually diminished, and ultimately it becomes necessary to introduce fresh liquid into the chamber to replenish the supply therein. According to the construction of prior devices, it has been necessary, when it is desired to replenish the supply of heavy liquid in the sight feed chamber, to shut down the force feed lubricator altogether, and in most instances partially disassemble the sight feeddevice in order to obtain access to the interior thereof to introduce the required additional quantity of heavy liquid into the sightfeed chamber. `The result has been that during the operation of replenishing the liquid in the sight feed chamber, the oil supply to a sight feed chamber without shutting down the force feed pump, and while maintaining the continuous passage of such quantities of oil through the sight feed chamber as are usually required by the machine being lubricated.

Briefly considered, the invention comprehends a sight feed device including a sight feed chamber having an oil inlet and an oil outlet along with a glass sight for observing the passage of oil through the chamber, and an auxiliary valve- 10 controlled duct or passage` opening into the chamber having associated therewith a second valve-controlled conduit, through which conduit and auxiliary duct, on opening of the valve controlling the auxiliaryduct, heavyliquid may be 15 injected into the sight feed chamber without interfering in any manner with the normal operation of the sight feed and the continuous passage of oil therethrough. The invention further comprisesspecic features of construction, 20 combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which are exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth.

Fora fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference may be had 25 to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in Which:

Figure l is a Vertical section of one form of /sight feed device embodying the invention; 30

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a modified form;

Fig. 3 `is a vertical section through a combined top bolt and valve body forming a part of the sight feed shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line 4--4 of 35 Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the valve stem constituting one part of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 2, and- Y Fig. 6 is'an elevation, on a reduced scale, of 40 the lower end of the body of the sight feed illustrated in Fig. 1 taken at right angles to the section shown in Fig. 1. Y

Referring to the drawing, and to- Figs. 1 and 6 in particular, the reference numeral Il] indicates 45 the body of the sight feed. The general form of the body is cylindrical except for valves and inlet passages `for the introduction of heavy fluid located in a projection cast integrally with the upper end of the body and which will hereafter be described in more detail. The lower end of the body l0 is provided with two horizontally extending lugs Il providing means for attaching the sight feed to the top of a reservoir, not shown, Which-contains oil and houses the pump units.

Directly beneath the center of the body Ill, there is mounted an oil feed pump, not shown, the discharge passage of which communicates through oil inlet passage I2 and check Valve I3 with the drop-forming nipple I4. The construction of the inlet check valve I3 and drop-forming nipple I4 is according to standard design and is Well known in the art. Windows I5 are provided in opposite sides of the body Ill, to facilitate observation of the passage of oil upwardly through the sight feed chamber.

The sight feed chamber indicated generally by the reference numeral I6, is formed by the base of body I8, the glass tube I1, the interior portion of member I8 and the under side of top bolt I9. The glass tube I1 has its lower end set into an annular channel cut in the upper face of the lower part of body I, and the upper end of tube I1 fits into an annular groove 28 formed between body I8 and ring 2|. Ring 2|, which is threaded inside the upper portion of body I0, when screwed down, exerts pressure on suitable gaskets 22, thus preventing leakage of oil from the chamber. Into the top portion of body I there is screwed the externally threaded member I 8, and the joint between the body I0 and member I8 is made fiuidtight by gasket 23.

The reference numeral 3 I indicates the oil out'- let for the sight feed chamber. The outlet 3| passes axially through a discharge fitting 32,

one end of which is shaped to provide a cylindrical section 33 adapted toreceive the downwardly projecting shank 34 of the bolt I9. The outlet end of the fitting 32 may be provided with any desirable means for attaching thereto a pipe or tube for conducting the oil from the outlet passage 3| to the point or points on the machine at which the oil is to be employed for lubricating purposes. The outlet fitting or connection 32 has therein an outlet check valve 35 similar to the inlet check valve I3 arranged, however, in the reverse manner so that oil may only pass outwardly through the connection 32.

The lower end of the shank 34 of the bolt I9 is threaded to fit into the internally threaded upper end of the member I8 as indicated at 36. Leakage between the bolt and member I8, and

the upper and lower surfaces of the sleeves-ec tion 33 is prevented by suitable gaskets 31. From the drawing it will be apparent that when the bolt I9 is screwed down tightly in place, the discharge fitting 32 is held firmly in the position shown.

The bolt I9 includes a short axial duct 40 opening at its lower end into the upper .end of the sight feed chamber and terminating at its upper end in the transverse passage 4|. At either end, the passage 4I opens into a circumferential groove 42 cut in the face of the shank 34- of the bolt. As is apparent from the drawing, the channel 42, when the parts are assembled in'position, forms with the inner surface ofthe sleeve 33, an annular channel which, for all' radial positions of the bolt 23, affords a connection between the sight feed chamber I6 andthe outlet passage 3| inthe discharge fitting 32.

Cast integrally with the upper portion of body I 0 there is a projection indicated generally by the reference numeral 44, and` containing auxiliary passages for the introductionof aheavy fiuid into Y sight feedchamber I6, together withV stop and check valves required for controlling the iioW in the auxiliary passages. The-projection 44comprises primarilyan auxiliary passage 45, com-A municating-ewiththe interior of the-chamber bei tween the ring 2| and the lower end of the member I8, and an inlet conduit 46 which may be connected to the auxiliary passage 45 by suitable manipulation of the conical pointed valve stem 41.

The lower end of the Valve stem 48 is threaded to fit into the lower end of the branch 49 of. the valve casing as indicated at 50. 'I'he packing gland 5| is similarly threadedinto the upper end of the branch 49. The inlet conduit 46 passes axially through a second branch 54 of the projection 44. The nipple 55 is threaded into the branch 54 and is so formed as to receive the check valve 56 and its actuating spring which seats at its inner end against the valve casing adjacent the conduit 46. A duct 51 in the inlet end of the nipple 55 forms a continuation of the inlet conduit 46. The outer end of the nipple 55 is. externally threaded to facilitate connection of the nipple to a suitable pipe or hose leading to a source of supply of heavy liquid.

In operation, oil passes from the pump, not shown, through inlet passage I2, past check valve I3, to drop-forming nipple I4.

to the top interior portion of. member I8 and pass through axial passage 40, transverse passage 4|, channel 42, and axial passage 3|, past check Valve 35, and are lead by a pipe, not shown, connected to fitting 32, to the portion of the machine to be lubricated.

When, through long operation, the heavy fluid within the sight feed chamber I6 has become depleted and it is desired to replenish same, a pump not shown is connected to nipple 55, the valve stem 48 is rotated, Which-moves the conical pointV 41'away from seat 41. 'Ihe pump is then operated, forcing heavy fluid from the pump through passage 51, past check valve 56, through passage 46, into the annular chamber surrounding the conical point 41 of valve stem 48, thence through passage 45` into chamber I6. When sufficient heavy fluid has been forced into chamber I6, the pump is removed, escape of heavy iiuid being prevented by check valve 56, and stem- 48 is screwed down so-that conical point 41 engages with seat 41', thus closing the passage through which the heavy fluid might escape from chamber I6 in case check valve 39-should leak.

In the embodiment ofthe invention illustrated in Fig. 2, the construction ofthe body 6U is the same as that of body IIJ described in connection with Fig. 1 except that the body 60 isnct provided with an integral projection similar to projection 44` accommodating the check and stop valves and associated passages. In Fig. 2, the oil inlet passage, the inlet check valve and the drop forming nipple for the sight feed chamber 8|, together with the member I8 and the outlet fitting or connection are of the same construe-- tion and arrangement as in the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1, and are designated by like reference characters; However, in the modication of Fig. 2, the liquid supply in the sight feed chamber 6| is replenished by means of a valve directly above the chamber rather than at the side as in Fig. 1.

The valve body or bolt 66 is shown assembled with the associated parts in Fig. Zand in sectiony in Fig. 3. The auxiliary passage 1| extendsl axially through the shank 12v projecting downwardly from the Valve body. The upper end' of the auxiliary passage 1| is adapted to form-a seat for the conical valve 13, and when thevalve'is operi;` the auxiliary passage 1I affordsa connec- The drops rise L through the heavy uidcontained in chamber I6 valve stem '15, shown in section in Fig. 5 has thereina longitudinal inlet conduit "I8 opening at its lower end into a short .transverse passage 19. 'Ihe vupper end of the valve stem 'I5 is externally threaded to .receive a valved inlet nipple indi- `catedonthe drawing by the reference numeral 80. Leakage around the valve stem' l5 is prevented by suitable packing BI heldin place by the gland 82Vand the gland nut B3 threaded to screw down Vover 'the head of the externally threaded upper end of the valve body 66. `The valve 'I3 may be manipulated by means of a. collar 84 fixed to the valvestem byA studs 85.

. Cut into the shank 'I2 of the valve casing B6 is an annular groove B6 which, when the parts are assembled, forms with the interior wall of the cylindrical end portion of the discharge tting 32 an annular channel 8l communicating with the outlet passage `3I in the discharge tting or connection 3,2. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the lower end of the shank 'I2 is longitudinally grooved orchannelled as at B9 and 9U to provide communication between the annular channel 81 and the upper end` of the sight feed chamber 6 I. Slis pressed into a counter-bore 92 in the lower end of the shank 'I2 to effect an extension for the auxiliary passage 1I into the middle portion of the chamber 6I. By reason of this construction, liquid injected into the sight feed chamber through the `auxiliary passage 'II is fed substantially into the center section of the sight cham'- ber 6I.

LIn the operation of the sight feed ofk Fig. 2, oil passes from the pump, not shown, through inlet passage I2, past check valve I3, to dropforming nipple I4. The drops rise through the heavy liquid contained in chamber Ii I, to the top interior portion `of member I8, and pass through the grooves 89 and 90, channel 8l, and Vpassage 3l, past a check valve and are lead by a pipe not shown, connected to fitting 32, to the portion of the machine to be lubricated.

When, through long operation, the heavy liquid within the sight feed chamber IiI has become depleted and it is desired to replenish samea pump not shown, is connected to the screw threads at the top of the iittingBIi, the valve stem 'I5 is rotated by means of collar 84, which moves the conical point I3 away from seat 13'. The pump is' then operated, forcing heavy'liquid from the pump past the check valve in nipple 80, through axial passage I8, transverse intersecting passage 19, into the annular chamber 'M surrounding the conical valve 13,2 through axial passage 'II and extension tube`9I into chamber 6I. When suincient heavy iiuid has been forced into chamber 6I, the pump is removed, escape of heavy fluid being prevented by the check valve in nipple 80, and stem 'I5 is screwed down so that conical valve 'I3 engages with seat 13', thus closing the passages through which the heavy Fluid might escape from chamber 6I, in case the check valve should leak. It will thus be seen that the introduction of the necessary amount of heavy uid may be accomplished Without in any way interfering with the continuous passage of oil through the sight feed chamber from the nipple I4 to the outlet 3|.

As previously mentioned, during the operation of sight feeds of the type contemplated by theV present invention, small quantities of the heavy colorless liquid maintained in the sight feed TubeV chamber are from time to time carried out of the chamber along with the oil leaving through the outlet. Thus,`over a more or less extended period, the supply of Vliquid in the sight feed chamber becomes gradually diminished and ultimately, it 5 has been necessary in prior devices, to shut down the Y.force feed pump and partially disassemble the sight feed in order to replenish the supply of liquid in the sight feed chamber. Such a shut-down is obviously undesirable, particularly where the sight feed is being used in connection with a continuously operating mechanism. According to the present invention, the supply of liquidin sight feed chamber may be replenished without stopping the force feed oil pump andl l5 while maintaining the continuous passage of oil through the sight feed chamber in such quantities usually required by the machine being oiled.

It will be observed in both embodiments of the invention illustrated that the passages through 20 which the heavy fluid, such as a glycerine-water mixture, enters the chambers are located considerablybelow the top of the chamber. In Figure 1 passage 45 through which the heavy iiuid enters chamber I6 is located just above ring 2i, while 25 chamber I6 extends up inside member I8 and the lower conical portion of top bolt I9. In Figure 2 the heavy fluid is introduced into chamber 6I through tube SI, which terminates at substantially the bottom of ring 2l. In both ernbodiments of the invention the heavy fluid is introduced below the top of the chamber, in order to insure that when a certain volume of heavy Iiuid is pumped into the chambers with the expulsion of a corresponding quantity from the 35 chamber through the outlet passages provided for the escape of oil, that the liquid expelled will be oil and not heavy fluid, which might be the case if the heavyV fluid were introduced near the outlet passage provided for oil.

'Ihe invention may be employed in connection with sight feeds of construction other than those shown in the drawing; for example, the glass tube II may obviously be replaced by a metallic casing provided With suitable glass windows of the type commonly referred to as bulls eyes. Since certain changes may be made in the above constructions and diiferentembodiments of the invention may be made Without departing `from the scope thereof, it isy intended that all matters contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be considered as illustrative and not by way of limitation.

I claim:

1. A sight feed comprising a sight feed chamber adapted to contain a heavy liquid, the said chamber having a sight glass vassociated therewith, an oil inlet at the lower end of the charnber, an oil outlet at the upper end of the chamber, a valve casing associated with and forming a part of the chamber, the valve casing having therein an auxiliary passage communicating with the chamber, a valve for controlling the flow of liquid through the auxiliary passage, an inlet conduit in the stem of the said valve, said inlet conduit being adapted when the valve is open to be in communication with the auxiliary passage, and a valve in the inlet conduit for controlling the passage of liquid therethrough.

2. A sight feed comprising a sight feed chamber adapted to contain a heavy liquid, the said chamber having a sight glass associated therewith, an oil inlet at the lower end of the cham- E ber, an oil outlet for the chamber, a valve casing having a shank forming one end of the chamber,

a. channel through the shank connecting.. the` chamber with the oil outlet, an auxiliary passage.` in the valve casing passing thru the. shankandl communicating with the chamber, a valve for` controlling the flow of liquid throughlthe auxiliary passage, an.inlet conduit in the stem of the said valve, means for connecting the inlet conduit and the auxiliary passage, and a valve in the inlet conduit for controlling the passage of'liquid therethrough.

3. A sight feed comprising a sightfeed chamber adapted to contain a heavy liquid, the said chamber having a sight glass associated therewith, an oil inlet at the lower end of the chamber, an oil outlet for the chamber, avalve casing having a shank forming one end of the chamber, a channel through` the shank connecting the chamber with the oil outlet, an auxiliary passage in the valve casing passing thru the shank and communicating with the chamber, a tube-con-A nected to the auxiliary passage and projectinginto an i intermediate section of the chamber, a valve for controlling the passage of liquid through the auxiliary passage, an inlet conduit in the stem of the valve disposed axially to the auxiliary passage, means for connecting the inlet conduit and the auxliary passage, and a valve in the inlet conduit for controlling the passage ofliquid therethrough.

4. A sight feed comprising a body, portion having a sight opening in the side wall thereof; means forming a sight feed chamber adapted to contain a heavy liquid including the base of saidv body portion, a sight feed tube in said body por'- tion and having one end abutting said base, and

a hollow member detachably connected to and` constituting an extension of said body portion; a valve-controlled inlet passage in said-base, a' fitting having a valve-controlled outlet passage communicating at one end with said sight feed chamber, meansincluding a bolt forming one end of the sight feed chamber and affording communication between the sight feed chamber and.

the passage in the fitting-for connecting said fitting andsaid hollow member in leakproof. re. lation, said body portion having connected to the upper end thereof a projection'including an auxiliary passage opening into said sight feed chamb'er for introducing heavyliquid into said chamber, a valve for controlling the passage of liquid through the auxiliary passage, and a valve-controlled inlet communicating with the auxiliary passage.

5. A sight feed comprising a body portion having asight opening in the side wall thereof, means forming a sight feed chamber adapted to contain a heavy liquid including the base of said body portion, a sight. feedtube.` in saidl body portion'.y

and' having. onev end abuttingisaidibase, anda. hollow. member connectedto and constituting an.

extension of saidbody portion;v packingv engaging.the sight feedtube and saidbase, packingen` gaging the; opposite endof the sight. feedtube,` anadjustable ring. within said chamber formed to-.engagethe inner surface of said body portion. and: the packingengaging saidv opposite end of.

necting said fitting and said hollowmember inleakproof relation, av valve-controlled auxiliary.

passage opening into said chamber for introducing heavy liquid into said-chamber, and a valvecontrolled 'inlet communicating with the auxiliary passage.

6. A sight feed comprising a body portion having a sight opening in the side wall thereof, means forming asight feed chambery adapted to containV a-heavy liquid including the base of said body portion, a sight feed tube in said body portion o and'having one end abutting said base, and a hollow member detachablyconnected to and constitutingan extension of said body portion; packing engagingl the sight feed tubeand said base,

packing engaging theA opposite end of the sight feed tube, an adjustable ring within said chamber formed-to engage the inner surface of said bodyportion and the packing engaging said opposite end of the sight feed tube, said ring being arranged on adjustment to tighten packing to prevent-leakage betweenthe ends of the sightfeed tube and the body portion,- a valve-controlled inlet passage in said base, a tting having a valvecontrolled outlet passage communicating at one end with said sight feed chamber, meansincluding a bolt forming one end of the sight feed chamber' and affording communication between the sight feed chamber andthe passage in the fitting-'forA connecting said fitting and'saidhollow member in leakproof relation, said body portion having connected to the upper end'thereof a projection including an auxiliary Apassage opening into said sight feed chamber for introducing heavy liquid into said chamber, a valve for controllng'the passage of liquid through the auxiliaryy passage, and a valve-controlled inlet communieating; with the auxiliary passage.

WALTER H.v KNISKERN. 

